UK becomes the first to be hit by flu vaccine shortage

BEVA has issued vaccination guidance amid the current Europe-wide equine influenza vaccine shortage

The British Equestrian Veterinary Association (BEVA), British Equestrian (BEF) and British Horseracing Authority (BHA) are collaborating to monitor the impact of a shortage of doses of vaccines for equine influenza. The three bodies have been aware of minor interruptions to the supply of such vaccines throughout 2022. However, a significant, logistical problem within Europe has raised the prospect of a further reduction in supplies in the coming months.

It has been confirmed there are distribution problems with equine influenza doses of Boehringer Ingelheim’s Proteq product. This is a Europe-wide issue, but the impact of a shortage of doses has hit the UK first, with several veterinary practices already out of stock. Early indications from the company are that the issues will continue until the end of October at the very earliest.

Working closely with BEVA, British Equestrian’s Emergency Response Group (BEF ERG) can offer temporary guidelines to help minimise the impact of the shortage of vaccine stocks for a limited period whilst preserving the health of our national equine herd. The BEF ERG will continue to meet regularly to monitor the situation and work on a strategy to manage vaccine stocks through the shortage and as supplies return to normal.

BEVA has modelled advice based on risk groups within the equine population, based on their vaccination history and frequency of mixing/competing:

Leisure horses

It’s recommended that general leisure horse owners in the low or lowest category whose horses’ 12-monthly boosters are due any time while the shortage is in place should defer their vaccination by up to three months, giving a maximum of 15 months since the previous booster. Any decision to defer the 12-month booster should be done against local risk assessment and in consultation with the owner’s vet.BEVA has established that there is evidence that horses are still protected at 15 months, even is this situation is far from ideal and the protection isn’t as great as it was at 12 months. Having had a good history of vaccination in the past is likely to help.Those who defer their vaccination should then follow with a booster within nine months to ensure the protocol of horses having two boosters within a two-year period is maintained. Horses due from late August until the situation is resolved would move to an annual vaccination programme which would look like: 2021 – 12-month interval, then 2022 – up to 15-month interval and in 2023 – up to nine-month interval.What this might look like in practice…

• 15 September 2021 – annual equine influenza booster administered
• 2022 booster deferred to the latest of 15 December 2022
• Booster administered 10 December 2022
• 2023 booster due by two years from the 2021 date.

Horse owners who defer their vaccination should get the affected horse’s passport signed and dated by their vet to document the delay with the statement ‘12-month booster delayed to due to vaccine shortage – due before > vet to insert date (within three months of due date) <’. This passport entry can be made anytime from one month prior to the original vaccine due date until the date on which the 15-month extension has elapsed, provided that it has been signed before the horse attends a gathering.It’s important to note that owners of horses who would fall into the criteria below are strongly advised to stay within the 12-month vaccination requirement to meet requirements or be at risk of having to restart the vaccination course or be refused entry…

• planning to affiliate with any member body with a current 12-month vaccination requirement in their rules
• are destined to race under BHA rules
• have international aspirations to compete under FEI rules
• currently or in the future planning to take part in activities which require competition and/or stabling at a racecourse, agricultural/equestrian college or equestrian venue which operates a six and/or 12-monthly vaccination requirement. BEF is liaising closely with these venues and will provide specific information should any decide to allow horses vaccinated between 12 and 15 months during the vaccine shortage to use their facilities at present and in the future.

Competition horses 

For horses registered to member bodies who regulate affiliated competitions, a different approach has been agreed with the Olympic disciplines. Due to the vaccination requirements currently in place there is a higher level of immunity among those horses competing, providing a strong foundation and reducing the risk level.  However, competition horses also mix more frequently with others and there is a need for close regulatory alignment with other governing bodies, including the FEI and BHA.Having reviewed the advice and recommendations from BEVA, we are awaiting further guidance from the FEI for international competition, which is anticipated later this week, on Thursday 8 September.  In the meantime, owners with horses who compete under the auspices of one of our member bodies, or plan to do so in future, should note the following measures:

Horse owners are reminded that many member body rules require horses to have clear six- or seven-day period from a booster being administered to competing. Please consult your discipline rule book.